Sotaky earth-working element



July 17, 1934. T. s. MILLER Er A1. Re. 19,242

ROTARY EARTH WORKING ELEMENT original Filed May 9, .192s

lNvENToRs wily El' 1211 (LN/can cfue Le olg MU ATTORNEY Reissued July 17, 1934 UNITED STATES i Re. 19,242r

PartisrL oFF-ICE ROTARY EARTH-WORKING ELEMENT and Look Chong Original No. 1,699,152, dated January 15, 1929,

Serial No. 276,232, May 9, 1928.

Application 101'l reissue May 9, 1934, Serial No. 724,770

7 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rotary earth-working elements, particularly adapted for use in connection with rotary plows.

l i@ The primaryv object of the present invention is to provide a rotary cylindrical earth-working element for plows of the `above kind, which is extremely simple and durable in construction as well as efficient in operation.

" A more specific'object is to provide an earthworking element of the above kind which may be cheaply and easily manufactured as well as readily assembled or repaired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a llifotary earth-working element for ploWs wherein the element is of effective cylindrical form and embodies plow blades arranged for successive sub-surface operation, the plow Blades being accordingly arranged to extend circumferentially Rs defined from rotary earth-Working elements having radially projecting or extending blades.

Still another object is to provide simple and effective means by means ofV which the plow blades may be detachably secured in place.

2liV Other objects will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing 80 and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein like reference charac-` ters indicate corresponding parts'throughoutthe several views:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a rotary earth- 3l! working element constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of one of the blade carrying units of the element shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail plan view Vshowing the means for detachably securing the plow blades in place upon the cross-bar mounting plates of the blade carrying units.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 with the plow blade removed.

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken substantially upon line 5--5 of Figure 3.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the present earth-working element embodies a drive shaft S, preferably of square form, and upon which are secured a plurality of blade or shovel carrying units which cooperate `to form a substantially cylindrical `rotary earth-working element. As shown, each blade or shovel carrying unit comprises Ia -sheetl metal plate or disk 5 formed with a circular series of uniformly spaced integral and outwardly projecting Vshovel or blade supporting arms 6 which preferably project tangentially from-the edge of the plate or disk 5 as shown.

Each Vdisk 5 is formed with a central circular opening in which is fitted a hub member 7 that projects beyond opposite sides 'of thefdisk and is provided near one end with an annular se-V curing ilange 8 which flatly engages the adjacent side of the disk 5 and is bolted to the latter as at 9@ With the hubs 7 projecting beyond opposite sides of the disks 5, it is apparent that when the plurality of blade carrying units are disposed upon the drive shaft S with the ends 0i' the hubs in adjacent contiguous relation, the disks' will be maintained in lunilornilyspaced relation as illustrated in Figure i. The openings in the hubs 7 of the units Vare preferably of substantially square form as shown in Figure 2 soV as to snugly accommodate the drive shaft S; and the hubs are equipped with suitable set screws 10 or the like for detachably fastening the units to theshaft S and against endwise movement on the latter. It will be understood that the shaft S is adapted to be suitably journaled upon a carrying frame as generally taught in connection with rotary earth-working implementsand for the purpose of rotatably drlvingthe shaftS,jsultable Vsprocket wheels 11 are fastened upon the projecting ends of shaft S for engage-L ment by driving sprocket chains'.A

Rigid with the outer ends of the blade supporting arms 6 are rectangular blade supporting plates 12, which may be referred to as crossbar blade supporting plates in view of their positions transversely of the arms 6 as clearly illustrated in several of the views. These plates 12` are accordingly positioned so that the planes of the same'are substantially parallel with the direction of their movement when the earthworking element is rotated, and detachably Iastened upontheV outer surfaces of the plates 12 are the 'plow blades Ycr shovels 13 which are thusY disposed to successively pass into andbodily be'- neath the'surface of the soil.

This type'of blade or shovel is what ls known as a sub-surface plow blade, and when used in plurality'for successive operation at uniform distances from the axis of rotation, as herein, will` insure plowing of the soil at a uniform depth.

Moreover, the more complete destruction of* weeds Lis insured by reason lof'this operation due to' severingof the stalks of the weeds rbelow the surface of the' soil.

As shown clearly in Figures 3 to 5 inclusive, each blade supporting plate 12 is provided with a pair of upstanding headed pins 14, one at each end of the plate 12, and the blade 13 is provided with 5 slots l5, the width of which is less than the diameter of the heads of the pins 14 but sufficient to permit reception of the Shanks of said pins 14. Thus, by positioning the blade 13 upon the outer surface of its associated mounting plate 12 and lo then bodily moving said blade 13 so that the shanks of the pins 14 will pass into the slots 15, the heads of pins 14 will engage the outer surface of the blade 13 at opposite sides of the slots 15 so that the blade is eiectively held against displacement l5 from the plate 12 radially of the earth-working element. It is thus apparent that it is now only necessary to prevent displacement of the blade 13 relative to its mounting plate l2 in a plane parallel with the planes of said blade 13 and plate 12 to insure retention of the blade in this operative position thereof. For the latter purpose, the blade 13 is provided with a threaded opening at a point between the slots 15, and having threaded engagement in this opening is a set 'screw 16 adapted to impinge the outer surface of the adjacent plate 12 so that when the screw 16 is threaded inwardly, the blade 13 will be forced into tight engagement with the heads of pins 14 and the shifting of the blade 13 effectively pre- Vented.

However, this shifting of the blade is more positively guarded against by providing the mounting plate 12 with a socket or recess 17 at a point between the pins 14 and so as to receive the inner @wend of the set screw 16 when it is threaded inwardly as described above. As shown, the screw 16 is preferably formed without a head so as to avoid objectionable projecting parts, but is of the socket type as shown to facilitate manual turning thereof by the use of a properly formed tool.

The blades are provided with similar forwardly converging edges 18 which are oblique to the axis of rotation and line of travel when the blade is secured in place, While the slots 15 open through Y the back edges of the blades for permitting the engagement of the latter with the headed pins 14.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that an earth-working element constructed in accordance with the above will be extremely simple and durable in construction and may be cheaply and easily manufactured and assembled, as well as readily and expeditiously taken apart for renewal or repair purposes. This is particularly true in connection with the attachment or detachment of the plow blades or shovels. By having the slots 15 extend forwardly from the back edge of the blade, the pressure on the blades when engaging and passing into the soil will tend to force the blades toward operative position rather than from such position. Naturally, this insures against placing material strain upon the set screws 16 when the element is in use. At the same time, the possibility of accidental detachment of the blades is reduced to a minimum when the de- Evice is in operation.

Furthermore if dirt or mud should pack into the slots 15 this would be readily and quickly pushed and discharged from the slots by the pins 14 as the blades are withdrawn from under the heads of such pins.

The successful and economical operation and maintenance of a machine of this type must depend upon the degree of sharpness of the blades both to provide efficient cutting means and to in- ,-5 crease the ease of cutting through the earth so as to reduce the power required to perform such function and hence reduce the cost of operation. To accomplish these results economically requires that the blades be removable and replaceable with great ease and speed so that the period of shut down and labor of so doing shall be reduced to a minimum. This is all made possible by our simple and effective placement and fastening means for the blades as above described.

The arms 6 not only extend tangentially but increase in width toward their inner ends and this provides a construction which will effectively withstand the severe usage to which devices of this character are put. The openings in the plate 5 surrounding the flange 8 are merely for reducing the weight of the earth-working element, which may be found desirable in view of the heavy gage metal from which the disks 5 are stamped.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that we have produced such a device as substantially fullls the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail 10D may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A rotary cylindrical earth working element for plows embodying a supporting structure havoutwardly projecting arms, blade supporting plates rigid with the outer ends of the arms and disposed in planes substantially parallel with their path of movement when the element is rotated, and sub-smace plow blades fastened on and flatly engaging the outer surfaces of said blade supporting plates, said arms projecting 1155 tangentially of the supporting structure and inclining outwardly to their direction of rotation.

2. A rotary cylindrical earth working element for plows embodying a supporting structure, blade supporting plates rigidly attached to the structure at the periphery thereof, and disposed in planes substantially parallel with the path of movement when the element is rotated, and sub-surface plow blades fastened on and flatly engaging the outer surfaces of said blade supporting plates, the blade fastening means embodying headed pins carried by the supporting plates, said blades having slots cut inwardly from the edge thereof for reception of the shanks of said headed pins to permit engagement of the blades under the heads of the pins when the blades are shifted in one direction parallel with the planes of the supporting plates, and means to then prevent shifting of the blades in the opposite direction.

3. A rotary cylindrical earth working element for plows embodying a supporting structure, blade supporting plates rigidly attached to the structure at the periphery thereof and disposed in planes substantially parallel with their path of movement when the element is rotated, subsurface plow blades fastened on and flatly engaging the outer surfaces of said blade supporting plates, the blade fastening means embodying headed pins carried by the supporting plates, said blades having slots for reception of the Shanks of said headed pins to permit engagement of the blades under the heads of the pins when the blades are shifted parallel with the planes of the supporting plates, and set screws carried by the blades and engageable with the 15.6.

supporting plates for forcing the blades outwardly into tight engagement with the heads of the pins.

4. A rotary cylindrical earth working element for plows embodying a supporting structure, blade supporting plates rigidly secured to the structure at the periphery thereof and disposed in planes substantially parallel with their path of movement when the element is rotated, subsurface plow blades fastened on and flatly engaging the outer surfaces of said blade supporting plates, the blade fastening means embodying headed pins carried by the supporting plates, said blades having slots for reception of the Shanks of said headed pins to permit engagement of the blades under the heads of the pins when the blades are shifted parallel with the planes of the supporting plates, and means for forcing the blades outwardly into tight engagement with the heads of the pins.

5. A rotary earth working instrumentality comprising a blade element and a blade supporting element, the latter including a plate, headed pins projecting outwardly from the face of the plate, the blade having slots arranged for sliding cooperation with the pins whereby the blade may be slid into position between the plate and pin heads, and means carried on one element and disassociated from the other but adapted to be brought into engagement therewith to secure the blade against undesired removal from under the pin heads.

6. A rotary earth working instrumentality comprising a blade element and a blade supporting element, the latter including a plate, headed pins projecting outwardly from the plate, the blade having slots cut in from its edge and arranged for sliding cooperation with the pins whereby the blade may be slid into position hetween the plate and pin heads, and means carried on one element and disassociated from the other but adapted to be brought into engagement therewith to secure the blade against undesired removal from under the pin heads.

'7. A rotary earth working instrumentality including supporting standards, blade receiving plates on the ends of the standards, headed pins projecting outwardly from the face of the plates, blades having slots arranged for sliding cooperation with the pins whereby the blades may be slid into position between the plates and pin heads, and cooperating means between the blades and plates operable to force the blades outwardly into rm engagement with the pin heads.

TONY STEPHEN MILLER. QUAN JUE LEONG.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Reissue No. 19,242. July 17, 1934.

TONY STEPHEN MILLER, ET AL.

lt is hereby certified that the above numbered patent was erroneously issued to "Miller and Chong, Isleton, California, a cupartnership composed of Sam Chong and Look Chong" as assignees of the entire interest in said invention whereas said patent should have been issued to Miller and Chong, of lsleton, California, a copartnership composed of Sam Chong. Look Chong and Jue Chong, as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of March, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

